import win32com.client, os
		
def convertXLS2CSV(aFile):
	'''converts a MS Excel file to csv w/ the same name in the same directory'''
	print "------ beginning to convert XLS to CSV ------"
	try:
		#import win32com.client, os
		excel = win32com.client.Dispatch('Excel.Application')
		fileDir, fileName = os.path.split(aFile)
		nameOnly = os.path.splitext(fileName)
		newName = nameOnly[0] + ".csv"
		outCSV = os.path.join(fileDir, newName)
		workbook = excel.Workbooks.Open(aFile)
		workbook.SaveAs(outCSV, FileFormat=24) # 24 represents xlCSVMSDOS
		workbook.Close(False)
		excel.Quit()
		del excel
		print "...Converted " + nameOnly + " to CSV"
	except:
		print ">>>>>>> FAILED to convert " + aFile + " to CSV!"
		
convertXLS2CSV("/local/python/my.xls")
